Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West

Slimbridge 2 Salisbury 1

On a historic afternoon for the club, and with Tony and Margaret Thornhill in attendance at the ground which bears their family name, three goals in five second half minutes delivered what is arguably the most notable win the history of Slimbridge AFC.

Steve Claridge’s Salisbury made the long journey back home having been defeated by a performance of determination and passion from the home side that left manager Leon Sterling delighted.

Sterling said: "Even though we were going through a rough patch before this game, we never lost our belief.

"We worked hard for 90 minutes and in the end edged it against a very good side. Our performance epitomised what our club is about, and I am very proud of the lads, who thoroughly deserved their victory."

The first five minutes of the second half saw three goals - Jack Twyman put the hosts ahead, Ollie Mehew scored immediately from the kick off to level things up and then Lee Smith notched what turned out to be the winner for the hosts, who secured their first League victory since August.

With Jack Sklenar making his debut appearance for the club, the Swans made a strong start, and Sklenar and Smith combined well early on for an opportunity which saw Jack Twyman head just side with three minutes on the clock.

At the other end, Justin Bennett was proving a real handful, and he had two close efforts - one coming back off the Swans’ crossbar, and another just wide in the first 15 minutes of the game.

Just before the half, after a period of play with both sides cancelling each other out, chances began to come - Oliie Mehew had a good effort deflected for a corner, Sklenar charged down a backpass, but couldn’t quite make his efforts pay, and Smith had two efforts resulting in comfortable saves for Salisbury keeper Alex Bass, on loan to the side from League Two side Portsmouth.

The second half started with a bang - With Sklenar replaced by Marley Thomas, the Slimbridge substitute made an instant impact - his work down the Swans’ left with Archie Haskayne saw the ball cleared to Twyman on the edge of the Salisbury box, and his shot gave Bass no chance to pit the home side ahead.

Salisbury struck straight back from the kick off, and Mehew levelled things up as the Swans were still celebrating their goal.

Thomas was proving a real handful for the Salisbury back line, and he brought a great save from Bass on 48 minutes after a mazy run, before the home restored their advantage.

Smith latched onto a through ball, beating Salisbury’s offside trap, and slid the ball past Bass to record the third goal in five breathless minutes and restore the hosts’ lead.

Salisbury continued to press, and Lewis Benson might have done better on 57 minutes, when his effort went wide as Slimbridge maintained their lead.

The Swans had a great opportunity to kill the game off on the hour mark, when Haskayne failed to connect with Smith’s cross, and thirteen minutes later, Jamie Martin was unable to reach a similar probing ball from Thomas.

With 15 minutes remaining, Salisbury upped their game, and it was backs to the wall defending for the Swans - Elliott Wheeler was wide with his lobbed effort after an Adrain Kowalski punch had reached him on the edge of the Slimbridge box, Kowalski made great stops from Thomas Wright and Lewis Benson, and Stephen Wacker managed again to hit the bar for the visitors, before Ryan Thwaite’s goalline clearance secured the points for the home side.

Slimbridge travel to AFC Totton on Saturday (3pm) for another League fixture.

Team: Kowalski, Ward, Mace, Ry Thwaite, Rich Thwaite, Turner, Twyman, Haskayne (Mason 70), Smith, Sklenar (Thomas 45), Cant (Martin 63) Supporters Man of the Match: Rich Thwaite